Bag for collecting laundry and the like



May 11, 1937. e. B. cooK BAG FOR COLLECTING LAUNDRY AND THE LIKE Filed March 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: 60/6 5. 600K,

ATTORNEY.

May 11, 1937. G. B. COOK BAG FOR COLLECTING LAUNDRY AND THE LIKE Filed March 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: 60/20 5. C004,

' ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES BAG FOR COLLECTING LAUNDRY AND THE LIKE Galen B. Cook, Independence, Mo.; Elsie Cook, owner by decree of court Application March 19, 1935, Serial No; 11,806

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to bags for the collection of clothing, linens or other materials from the patrons of laundries or cleaning establishments, and the primary object in view is to provide a combination bag and fastening means whereby the bag may be closed and maintained fastened in either a full or in various partlyfilled conditions, corresponding to different measured amounts or contents of such materials which are tobe sent to the cleaning establishment. This object is incidental to a service schedule by such laundry or cleaning establishments based on price rates per unit of volume as distinguished from a rate per unit of weight of the materials sent to those establishments for laundering and cleaning.

For accomplishing this object I have devised a bag of fabric, cloth, or similar material which is provided with a fastening means, preferably adapted to be attached as an accessory to the bag and to cooperate with other suitable provision forming a part of the bag construction for holding the bag in a proper and definitely closed state and for securing it in one of its full or partly-full conditions, representing the different measurments designed to be afforded by the use of th bag.

Various different styles or designs of fastening instrumentalities may be employed for so securing or fastening the bag in the manner stated, all functioning to the same end as regards allowing the material of the bag to be gathered into a closed state, according to the measured quantity of the contents placed in the bag, and fastened or secured only in the'closed state corresponding to an amount not less than that quantity of the materials,and yet preventing excess amounts being crowded into the bag over and above the quantity represented by each measuring portion or section of the bag.

Typical forms of embodiment of such bag closing and fastening means as are peculiarly well adapted to function in accordance with the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, after which the particular features thereof deemed to be novel and patentable in this relation will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view showing a bag construction provided with a form of fastening means adapted to function in accordance with this invention;

Figures 2 and s are similarvi s sh i the bag closed and fastened in relations correspond-. ing to partly filled conditions of the bag;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail, representing a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 (on a larger scale) Figure 5 is a plan view showing a bag construction embodying a modified form of the fas. tening means; 7

Figures 6 and '7 are similar views showing the bag fastened in relations corresponding to full and only partly-full conditions, respectively;

Figure 8 is a plan View showing a bag vconstruction embodying still another form of the fastening means, a portion of the bag being broken away to disclose the arrangement of the fastening elements inside the bag;

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the bag fastened in a partly-full relation,a portion of the bag being broken away to show the bag-closing arrangement of the fastening means;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing a bag provided with still another form of fastening means;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detail View of the same closed in partly-full relation;

Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary views of still-another form of construction,Figure 13 showing a perspective view of the fastening means in bag-closing relation; 7 r s Figures 14' and 15 are similar views illustrating another form of the construction;

Figures 16 and 17 are similar views illustrating still another form of the construction operating on the draw-string principle;

Figures 18 and 19 are similar views showing yet another form of construction, representing a modification of the form illustrated in Figures 10 and. 11; and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view of a bag equipped with a still further modified form of the fastening means.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, these views show the bag and fastening construction as comprising a bag 22 provided near its open end or mouth portion with a transverse row of eyelets 23, and also with similar rows of eyelets 23 and 23 at different distances from said open end, corresponding to different extents to which the bag may be filled with the materials to be collected therein from the customers or patrons of the 50 establishment making use of the bags for collecting purposes. For cooperating with said eyelets in the fastening function; a flexible cord 24 or the like may be secured to a convenient point on the bag, as indicated at 25 and provided with a 55 set of split or sectional rings (of the character shown in my Patent No. 1,994,945, issued March 19, 1935), each ring being comprised of two sections 26 hinged together at 21 and formed with spring latching portions 28, and one section of each ring being attached to the cord 24 by a swivel element 29.

In Figure 1 the bag is shown with the fastening means disengaged from fastening relation. For securing the bag in full, or nearly-full condition, the several rings 26 are simply snapped through the mating eyelets 23 on the opposite sides of the mouth portion of the bag. In case of smaller quantities being put in the bag, the bag may then be fastenedby rolling the unfilled portion as represented in Figures 2 to 4, so thatv the rings 26 may be snapped around said rolled portion and through the mating eyelets 23' as shown in Figures 2 and 4, or through the eyelets 23" as in Figure 3,-according to the size of the quantity placed in the bag. Thus the bag is held in proper closed and fastened relation by the samering fastening devices cooperating with any one of the series of eyelets provided for the purpose; and it is to be noted that the fastening operation can not be carried out in the event of more than the proper amount of materials being put in for filling the bag to the level at which it is, to be closed and fastened.

Referring to Figures to- 7, these views illustrate the bag as provided at its open or mouth end with a set of loops 3!) equally spaced about the margin of said mouth portion, and provided with a fastening device comprising a metal element 32 attached to one of said loops 30 and carrying a pull cord- 33. By operation of this cord, the element 32 may be pulled and threaded through the remaining loops 30 as represented in Figure 6, and thereupon hooked, by means of a hook portion 34 forming a part of the element 32, into fastening engagement with the last loop 30 through which the cord 33 is threaded,- thus holding the bag securely closed as illustrated in Figure 6. When the bag is only partly filled, leaving its upper portion empty and therefore collapsible to a greater or less extent upon its lower filled portion, the metal hook element may then be threaded on through all the upper loops 36 and on down into hooking engagement with one or the other of a series of lower exterior loops 30 (attached to the outside of the bag), as represented in Figure '7,-according to the extent to which the bag is filled. The location of these lower exterior loops 30 is so arranged that the collapsing of the upper unfilled portion of the bag for hooking the element 32 into said exterior loopsand hence the diminished capacity of the bag in this form, will correspond fairly definitely to the quantities of material capable of being enclosed within the bag when the hooking element is so fastened.

In Figures 8 and 9 the bag 22 is illustrated as provided with spaced interior closure flaps 36, each carrying a set of loops 31, in addition to the loops 30 at the upper or mouth end of the bag. For fastening purposes, a cord such as illustrated at 38 may be used, having the snap hook 40 for detachable connection with any one of the loops, whereupon said cord 38 may be simply threaded through the remaining loops,

drawing them together, and the cord then tied or knotted to hold the loops together in fastened relation. Or, the type of fastening means shown in Figures 5 to 7 may be employed, using the snap hook 40 for making detachable connection with any one of the loops 30 or 31, as illustrated in relation to the intermediate set of loops in Figure 9.

Obviously other more or less equivalent forms of fastening means may be substituted in lieu of those herein shown, such as the common zipper type oi fastening, for effecting suitable closure of the bag for the several measuring capacities.

In Figures 10 and 11 the bag is shown as provided with a series of fastening straps 42 spaced apart the required distances and each adapted to be threaded through its own series of strap loops 43 spaced apart transversely around the bag. When thus threaded through the corresponding loops, the strap is pulled to gather the material of the bag into closed condition at that level, as shown in Figure 11, and the end of the strap secured by a suitable fastener, such as a snap type of fastener 45 of the glove-fastener type. If preferred, of course, a single strap, provided with a detachable snap connection (like that shown at 43 in Figure 8 and for the fastening cords shown in certain of the following forms) could be made to serve in place of a plurality of such straps.

Figures 12 and 13 show a modification in which the bag is provided with the spaced rows of eyelets 23, 23 and 23" as represented in Figure 1,- but in place of the rings 26 the closure function is effected by means of a rod 46 which may be threaded through the eyelets of any one of the series, by alining the eyelets for matching up those on opposite sides of the bag as illustrated in Figure 13. As a convenience the rod may be attached to the bag by means of a flexible chain 41 or the like, having a ferrule 48 slidingly connected with the rod,--one end of the chain being suitably secured to the bag at any desired point, as indicated at 49, by means of a snap fastener 49'.

In Figures 14 and 15 is illustrated a modification in which the bag is provided with a combination of eyelets 50 and loops 5| for the threading therethrough of a cord 52 provided with a metal hook element 53 which may be detachably connected with any one of the eyelet-loop series by means of a cord piece 52' carrying a snap 54, for which connection one of the eyelets of each series is fitted with a ring 55.

Thus the cord may be pulled to draw the hook member 53 through the eyelets and loops of any one of the series, thereby gathering the bag into closed form at that level as shown in Figure 15, when the corresponding ring 55 is engaged and fastened by the hook portion 53 of said element 53.

In place of the eyelets and loops, a belt or band 56 may be used as shown in Figure 14 (on the principle of my copending application above referred to), as the engagement of the cord piece 52' and its fastenings around beneath said band, in shouldered relation thereto, will of course effectually closethe bag at that level.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a form of the construction making use of the draw-string principle, by providing bands 51 at the several closure levels to form passages for cords or draw-strings 58, the outer exposed portions of which carry slides 55 formed with catches or detents 6D for retaining engagement with balls 61 which are secured fast to said cords. On drawing up any one of the cords to close a certain section of the bag, as represented in Figure 17, said balls BI are exposed for engagement with the detents of the corresponding slide for securing the bag in closed relation, in an obvious manner.

In Figures 18 and 19 is shown a construction in which the bag is provided with loops 43 similar to the type shown in Figure 10, but the fastening straps 42 are replaced by eyelets 62 fitted with rings 63 for detachable connection with a fastening device comprising a flexible chain 69 carrying a snap hook 64 for attachment to any one of said rings and also carrying a metal element 65 swivelly mounted on the chain but held against any longitudinal movement along the chain. This element 65 is formed with catches or detents 65 for suitable retaining engagement with a ball element 5'! also carried by the chain near its outer end.

The extremity of the chain 69 carries a pull piece 68 for convenience in drawing the chain and parts carried thereby through the loops 43 and facilitating the engagement of the ball 61 With the detents 66, with the bag material closed in the gathered relation illustrated in Figure 19.

Finally, in Figure 20 is shown a modification in which one side of the bag is provided at the several closure levels with loop elements 10 adapted to be projected through slots 72 provided on the opposite side of the bag, whereupon a fastening cord 12 may be threaded through the projecting exposed portions of said loops and knotted or tied in an obvious manner for securing the bag in closed relation at the corresponding level. For convenience the cord is provided with a snap hook T3 for detachable connection with rings 14 fitted in eyelets '15 at the several closure levels, as shown.

It will be apparent that in the use of each of the forms of construction illustrated, the bag may be either filled or only partly filled to the various extents provided for by the separate closure and fastening means, and then securely fastened by said means. The construction thus provides for placing definite quantities in the bag which may not exceed such given quantities up to certain levels at which the bag is designed to be closed and fastened. This feature is of particular value in connection with laundry or similar services, where different rates are sometimes quoted for different quantities of goods to be laundered, a stated price for small quantities and relatively lower rates for larger quantities. In such a practice the bag is delivered to the patron, who gages the batch of soiled clothing, etc., according to the amount necessary to fill the bag to the extent authorized according to the service rate desired to be taken advantage of.

The patron may readily determine and regulate the proper size of the batch to be put in the bag by simply supplying just the necessary quantity which will permit the fastening means to be manipulated for closing and fastening the bag at the level corresponding to the chosen rate. Only the allowed quantity can thus be placed in the bag as authorized, since an excess quantity will interfere with and prevent the proper manipulation of the closure and fastening structure,-the fastening means being of a definite and positively operating character for properly limiting the contents according to the rate chosen, on substantially the same principle as that characterizing the form of construction shown in the aforesaid patent.

Such a method of service, employing collection bags embodying the described feature, is not only serviceable and convenient to the patron, but also expedites the operations of the laundry in the Work of collecting, handling, weighing, etc.

While I have illustrated and described what I have found to represent satisfactory embodiments of bag constructions for the efiicient practise of my invention, I desire to expressly reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bag for collecting laundry or the like, comprising a bag or container of flexible material, and selective bag-closing and fastening means for holding the bag closed in either full or various partly-full conditions, said means comprising a plurality of series of eyelets incorporated in the bag structure at the various filling levels, and a plurality of bag-clasping devices adapted to cooperatively clasp the unfilled portion of the bag when rolled from its mouth down to its filled level and also effect separate fastening engagement with the eyelets of the series corresponding to the filled level.

2. A bag for collecting laundry or the like, comprising a bag or container of flexible material, and selective bag-closing and fastening means for holding the bag closed in either full or various partly-full conditions, said means comprising a plurality of series of eyelets incorporated in the bag structure at the various filling levels, and a series of connected ring fastening devices attached to the bag and operative to selectively engage said eyelets to secure the bag in either a filled condition, or in partly-full condition by separately clasping its unfilled portion in roll form at the individual eyelet points of any one series While also efiecting fastening engagement with the eyelets of the series corresponding to the filled level.

3. A bag for collecting laundry or the like,

comprising a bag or container of flexible material, and selective bag-closing and fastening means for holding the bag closed in either full or various partly-full conditions, said means comprising a plurality of series of eyelets incorporated in the bag structure at the various filling levels, and a series of connected ring fastening devices operative to selectively engage said eyelets to secure the bag in either a filled condition, or in partly-full condition, by separately clasping its unfilled portion in roll form at the individual eyelet points of any one series while also efiecting fastening engagement with the eye lets at those points by passing of said ring devices through mating pairs of eyelets at opposite sides of the bag.

GALEN B. COOK. 

